Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 4

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

अपि ते मुनिशार्दूल मम माता यशस्विनी।दर्शिता राजपुत्राय तपो दीर्घमुपागता।।।।

Transliteration

api te muniśārdūla mama mātā yaśasvinī |

darśitā rājaputrāya tapo dīrgham upāgatā ||

Translation

O tiger among sages, was my renowned mother—who had long undertaken austerity—shown by you to the prince?

Word by Word

• अपि: whether
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/particle)

• रामे: towards/in regard to Rāma
• रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन

• महातेजाः: O greatly radiant one
• महातेजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महत् तेजो यस्य)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माता)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यशस्विनी: renowned
• यशस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माता)

• वन्यैः: with forest-offerings
• वन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• उपाहरत्: offered/brought
• उपाहरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पूजाम्: worship/honour
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजार्हे: worthy of worship
• पूजार्हे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजार्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रामे)

• सर्वदेहिनाम्: of all embodied beings
• सर्वदेहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः (सर्वे देहिनः)

Context

"O Tiger among ascetics, was my renowned mother who had been practising intense austerities for long shown to the prince (Rama)?

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Viśvāmitra
• Ahalyā (implied as ‘my mother’)
• Rāma (implied as ‘the prince’)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes accountability and restoration: long tapas signifies penitence and moral repair, and ‘being shown’ to Rāma hints at the moment when righteousness can lift a curse and re-establish truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda inquires whether Viśvāmitra has already revealed Ahalyā—his mother, famed yet afflicted—to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial concern joined with reverence for dharma: Śatānanda’s questions show care for his mother’s restoration and respect for the sage guiding the princes.